Fifth Avenue to 57th Street

Fifth Avenue to 57th Street New York

When you think Fifth Avenue, luxury, style and wealth no doubt come to mind. It is home to legendary stores like jewelry giant Tiffany & Co. and upscale toy store FAO Schwarz, as well as many flagship designer shops like Louis Vuitton. As one of the most expensive streets in the world, Fifth Avenue is a premier shopping destination and a top New York City attraction.

History of Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue’s history as a beacon for the social elite began in 1862, when prominent American socialite Caroline Schermerhorn Astor and her husband built a townhouse on Fifth at the southwest corner of Thirty-Fourth Street. In 1893, the Astoria Hotel was built on the site (later to become the Waldorf-Astoria) and the area began to commercialize.

Benjamin Altman built the street’s first commercial building in 1896 at the northeast corner of Thirty-Fourth Street. He moved his department store B. Altman and Company to the location in 1906, marking the beginning of Fifth Avenue as an upscale and stylish shopping area.

Upper Fifth Avenue, between 59th and 96th Streets, became home to New York’s wealthiest by the early 1900s. This stretch of Fifth faces the picturesque greenery of Central Park and features beautiful architecture in the historic mansions and residential buildings. Upper Fifth Avenue is also home to Museum Mile, where some of the best museums and fine arts institutions in the world are located between 82nd and 104th Streets including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the El Museo del Barrio, the leading Latino cultural institution in New York City.

Shopping on Fifth Avenue

New York City is a fashion lover’s paradise, and the shopping on Fifth Avenue between 34th and 59th Streets is legendary. Whether you crave classic elegance or cutting-edge trends, you’ll find it on Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue is home to luxury department stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue and designer flagships like Gucci and Hugo Boss. It also houses the Louis Vuitton flagship, which is the largest Louis Vuitton boutique in the world, and stunning jewelry stores such as Harry Winston and Tiffany & Co.

Fashionistas will enjoy chic boutiques like Henri Bendel with its trendsetting handbags and accessories, as well as favourites like Zara and H&M. Other noteworthy shops include the 43,000 square-foot American Girl Place with its line of historical dolls and a theatre that brings the doll characters to life. The massive store also features clothing, furniture and accessories as well as a bookstore and cafe. And for those who prefer sneakers to stilettos, the NBA Store carries a huge selection of footwear, hats and authentic jerseys and features a court on the main floor where shoppers can test their skills when they are tired of shopping!

Visiting Fifth Avenue to 57th Street NYC

Fifth Avenue begins in New York’s Greenwich Village at Washington Square Park. It runs north along the east side of Central Park through Midtown Manhattan, ending at 142nd Street at the Harlem River.